Cadillac shuts down Bottas exit talk at Monaco

Cadillac has categorically denied that Valtteri Bottas is at risk of losing his seat before the Monaco Grand Prix, with team boss Graeme Lowdon insisting there is "absolutely no basis" to the rumors and pointing out that the driver most heavily linked to a replacement does not currently have the licence points to race in Formula 1.

Speaking to journalists in Monaco, Lowdon rejected the speculation in the strongest terms. "There is absolutely no basis to these rumors. No truth. I can say that categorically," he said, adding that outside observers "do not know what we are actually asking of our drivers" as Cadillac tries to build a team while competing through its first season on the grid.

That directly addressed the most eye-catching claim of the week, that Colton Herta could be drafted in for Bottas within the next few races. Lowdon said Herta does not have enough points for an FIA Super Licence, adding that this "probably says everything about the quality of some of this speculation."

Cadillac's line is that it remains committed to its original 2026 pairing of Bottas and Sergio Perez, despite a difficult start for the new operation. Lowdon said both drivers are taking on responsibilities beyond those expected at an established team because Cadillac is still developing its car, structure and sporting operation at the same time.

The rumors had gathered pace after a tough opening run for the team, including claims that Bottas was about eight tenths slower than Perez in Montreal qualifying and that a change could come quickly if Monaco went badly. Lowdon's response was not just a defense of Bottas, but of Cadillac's wider approach in its debut campaign.

He argued the team's progress has been stronger than many expected before the season began. Lowdon noted that some predictions had Cadillac struggling even to stay within the 107% qualifying threshold, yet in Montreal the team missed a place in the next phase of Sprint qualifying by only a tiny margin, reinforcing its case that continuity matters more than reacting to outside noise.